LEAD THE ATTACK: The Pinelands Regional football team’s offense is in the capable hands of several experienced starters, including quarterback Ty Kline, who threw for over 1,400 yards last season. (File photos by David Biggy)
During the first four weeks of last season, the Pinelands Regional football team seemed unstoppable, winning all four games by a combined score of 100-31. The Wildcats won just one more game the rest of the season – a 27-7 victory over division rival Barnegat in Week 7.
After a 7-4 season last year, the Wildcats expected to do just as well or better last fall, but injuries ultimately took their toll.
This season, with a full roster of healthy and experienced personnel, the Wildcats should not only compete in a division that was restructured in the offseason by the realignment of the Shore Conference, but also potentially for a spot in the NJSIAA playoffs.
“This is by far the most experienced group our program has had in a long time,” said head coach John Tierney, now in his third season at the helm. “The front seven on both sides of the ball are very experienced, and we’re going to look to lean on our leadership this season.”
Leading the Pinelands offense will once again be quarterback Ty Kline, who threw for over 1,400 yards and 10 touchdowns last fall, and running back Jaimin Parkinson, who ran for 820 yards and 10 TDs.
However, the Wildcats have said goodbye to their two strongest wide receivers, Mike Frawley and Liam Villinger, who accounted for 84 of 105 pass catches for 1,314 yards and nine touchdowns last fall. This means Kline will have to re-establish the passing game with less experienced wide receivers.
“Ty has proven he can run the ball down the field, but we are inexperienced at the outside positions,” Tierney said. “The young players have proven they are extremely athletic, but we will be successful if we can run the ball.”
ON THE RUN: Senior Jaimin Parkinson gives the Wildcats a strong option in the backfield, and if he stays healthy this fall, he should make a lot of yards.
Behind an offensive line that includes 6-foot-5, 295-pound senior Jayden Hadzovic, who transferred to Princeton over the summer, as well as returning senior linemen Anthony Aguanno, Cooper Sobon, Qasi Goode and Brady Fence and senior tight end Chase Martin, Pinelands should be able to move the ball with its running game against most teams.
Senior Shane Gordon, junior Eric Kobilynk and sophomore Jamie Jenkins will bolster the running backs, while seniors Matt Davis and Heath Nelson, juniors Tahj Miller and Ismael Jacques and sophomore Anthony Bonds will fill the wide receiver role. Senior Mark Coleman and junior Logan Minor will bolster the offensive line.
While most of the older linemen play on both sides of the ball and the linebacker corps consists primarily of starters Martin, Kobilnyk and Gordon, the Wildcats’ secondary will feature a new group of inexperienced players – Jenkins and classmates Sam Kilasi and Jimmy McCutcheon, as well as freshman RJ Clarke, will likely be in the starting lineup.
Junior Jayden Villa (LB) and sophomores Seth Ramirez (OL/DL), Owen Taylor (DE) and Brody Rawa (LB) are expected to see some action on defense.
“We don’t have any experience in the secondary, but if we can stop the run on defense, we’ll have success,” Tierney said. “We hope to improve from the last two seasons by counting on the experience of the seniors to help the younger guys on the field. We want to improve every day.”
Pinelands, which begins its season on Friday, Sept. 6, at Shore Regional, will play in the C South Division along with Barnegat, Jackson Liberty, Lakewood, Manchester and Monmouth Regional.
Southern hopes for turnaround
After starting last year 3-2 in five games, the Southern Regional football team has only scored 15 points in its last five games, all of which have been losses. When the Rams open the season against Highland on Saturday, August 31, as part of the colossal “Battle at the Beach” exhibition, head coach Chuck Donohue’s team will be hoping to turn things around in the fall.
POWER PLAY: Southern Regional senior running back DJ Halm led the Rams with 338 yards on the ground a year ago.
The question, of course, is whether the Rams have enough offensive power to score points. Unfortunately, inexperience against the better teams on the schedule could be a factor.
Southern has two capable quarterbacks: senior Cooper Demspey — who split time with graduate transfer Caden Oravets last fall and had 32 completions for 282 yards and a touchdown — and Carson Abbato, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound sophomore. As for the running game, senior DJ Halm, who led the Rams last year with 338 yards and three TDs on 87 carries, and Justin Silva, who rushed for 154 yards and a TD, are the main candidates for the starting lineup, with returning senior Evan Wyrsch potentially joining the lineup. Sophomore Levi Foote is also expected to make an impact in the backfield.
Southern has little experience at the wide receiver position — senior Talon Plenge caught eight passes for 41 yards last fall. Senior tight end Dan Unger, who caught nine passes for 31 yards last year, bolsters the quarterback target list, but the Rams will need several new players, including senior Jason Heins and sophomore Chris Raub. Colton Oravets, a junior tight end, could also play a major role in the passing game.
Fortunately, the Rams have some experience in the ranks, with returning seniors Cayden Parkhill, William Bucci and PJ Dolan, and juniors Joey Spina, Lucas Favorito and Ty Eck’art leading the way. Senior Gabe Wyrsch adds depth to the line and senior Keegan Foote also returns as a punter/kicker and part of a solid linebacker crew.
On defense, junior Harrison Grose is expected to make an impact at defensive back, and classmate Aidan Covell could be among the newer players to help out at linebacker.
Southern will play in the Shore Conference B South Division with Brick, Central, Lacey, Toms River East and Toms River South.
Barnegat hopes for
SPEEDSTER: Barnegat senior running back Myquan Rush-Esdaile carried the football for over 1,000 yards last fall and is once again the Bengals’ first choice in the backfield.
After a 2-8 season last year, the Barnegat football team is hoping that the experience of most of its players will lead to a few more wins this season. And it’s very likely that head coach Paul Covine’s Bengals will build on the strength of their running game.
With the return of junior quarterback Jack Haviland to the center position, the Bengals are in good hands with senior running backs Myquan Rush-Esdaile and Johnnel Johnson. Rush-Esdaile carried the ball 142 times for 1,096 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Johnson complemented him with 81 carries for 510 yards and three TDs. In the passing game, Haviland has only a couple of experienced receivers – senior tight end Cole Toddings, who caught 26 passes for 249 yards and three touchdowns last season, and senior wide receiver Stephen Griffin, who caught 11 passes for 127 yards.
Of course, the offensive line makes a difference in terms of talent, and this season the Bengals have several back in action, including returning starters Juelz Jarvis, Anthony Albanese and Dyllan Rauso, all of whom are juniors. Senior Colin Erwin is expected to be the best center snapping the ball.
In addition to the returning starters on offense, experienced wide receivers Todd Muhammad, David Gonzalez and Jamison Prince will also be involved in the passing game. Gonzalez also serves as the team’s punter.
Erwin (DL), Jarvis (DL), Toddings (LB), Johnson (LB), Rush-Esdaile (DB), Griffin (DB), Haviland (DB) and Muhammad (DB) will lead the defensive line. The starting lineup will also include seniors Kenroy Sealey (DL), Bryan Aguilar (LB) and junior Estabon Babilonia (LB).
Seniors Jonathon Prutzman (OL/DL) and Angel Vega (RB), junior Connor Green (TE/LB) and sophomores Patrick Small (DL), Joshua Kozak (OL/DL), Cuinn Pascavage (OL/DL), Nick Malinowski (LB), Joshua Kawka (WR/DB) and Christopher Santero (LB) are expected to make an impact in their first roles on the college team.
Barnegat begins its season on Thursday, August 29, at Toms River East.
— David Biggy
